There is not another player in the NFL that would want to be in the position of Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson, who is heading into his fifth season with the Vikings, is the current starting quarterback but that is in limbo with what Brett Favre decides to do. Contrary to most, I think that Favre is entitled to do whatever it is that he wants to do. (Editor’s note: I disagree, but the Vikings have empowered him to be like this) Despite being in this position the same time last year, Jackson has shown that he has matured and no matter what the case is, he will give one-hundred percent of his efforts. It does suck to be in his position because no matter how well he performs in drills or preseason games, Jackson’s chance to be the Vikings’ starting quarterback depend on the whims of a forty-year-old’s ankle. It remains to be seen what Favre’s intentions are, but if he decides to retire, Jackson will have the opportunity to show that he can lead this talented team deep in the playoffs.

Tarvaris Jackson joined KFAN in Minneapolis to talk about whether it is weird for him that his position as starting quarterback is in limbo because of Brett Favre, him being excited about the possibility to prove to people that he can be the starting quarterback with an offense that has matured into something special, and whether he is excited or nervous about the possibility of leading a potential Super Bowl team.

Whether it is weird for him that his position as starting quarterback is in limbo because of Brett Favre:

“I am on the field just playing, trying to get better, but when I get off the field I have to deal with it and answer questions from the media from it. Every time I turn a different channel on the TV I have got to answer questions, I have got to watch it on TV. It is a difficult situation but I just try to block it out and just try to keep pushing.”

His thoughts on what he would say about how much of a changed player he is now from his last start against the Eagles:

“I am a different player. I feel like I have grown up a lot, I know I have grown a lot since then. I feel like whenever I get my chance to go out there and play, I will prove it. It is easy for me to say it, I just got to go out there and show everyone because I understand the situation with everyone don’t think I can’t do it or people don’t think I can’t but it don’t really bother me a lot. As long as my teammates believe in me, I believe in myself, that is the big thing. If I believe in myself and stay confident and even keel like I am, I will be fine.”

On him being excited about the possibility to prove to people that he can be the starting quarterback with an offense that has matured into something special:

“Definitely. We have grown a lot as an offense and as a team since then. A lot of our guys, this is going to be coach’s 5th year here. Most of our core guys have been here for at least 2 or 3 years now and like you said, Sid has gotten a lot better since that year, Bernard, and then we have Percy. Adrian is a year older. I feel like our offense has grown and we have just grown as a team. Our offense is together now and I feel like if I get a chance to go out there and play now, I feel like I would be a lot better.”

Whether he is excited or nervous about the possibility of leading a potential Super Bowl team:

“It is very exciting knowing that we have a team to get there even though a couple of years back, even when I was starting back in ’07 and ’08, we felt like we was a Super Bowl team but we have gotten a lot better since then. It is very exciting knowing that the type of team that we have and that is what pushes me every day to try to get better so I can help lead my team to that point to win the Super Bowl. That is the thing about it is just not going in there and playing well to show people that I can do it. It is more about the team than it is about me.”